Tampabay: Excerpts from Steve Stanton's plan

I will have individual meetings with the remaining members of the City Commission (except Commissioner Black) in the following order: Woods, Arntzen, Guyette and Crozier. I am not really sure of how much advance notice I can, or should, give the Commission. I feel once they, and their spouses know, the secret will not be a secret very long.

I trust each one of them but feel it is unfair to place this burden on them and ask them "not to tell"

This will be the "big day" and will conceivably be of high interest to the media. It will be the first time the Susan Stanton will present herself to the city and will undoubtedly cause initial disruptions at city hall. Key issues to be developed addressed include:

- Should I provide a picture of what I will look like before showing up for work?

- Is there value is some lunch time "Come and Meet Susan" type event. This also will be very awkward but might help employees get passed their discomfort.

This first meeting will be the most stressful time for both the City Commission and me. There will undoubtedly be members of the general public calling for my immediate dismissal as a result of this "immoral life style choice." I anticipate the same large crowd of people returning to the chambers who objected to the human rights ordinance. Unfortunately, this time they will have a name and a face to target their anger:

- I need to create a community based support network to speak on my behalf who are not members of the transgender community.

- It is imperative that this evening not degenerate into circus like environment

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Comments on this article

by Erin	03/22/07 09:22 AM
I feel that if his choice of being a man or a woman doesn't refleck in him/her doing there job in a professional manner, there is no reason to question if he is a she or she is a he. Who cares as long as the job is done right.

by james	03/22/07 02:57 AM
I continue to be baffled by why this upsets people so much. Who cares how someone dresses or presents themself? It's different in every culture. Using words like 'freak,' 'personality disorder,' 'mid-life crisis,' just displays your ignorance.

by grey	03/21/07 02:24 PM
Well as far as I know the only personality disorders are the one on T.V. There isnt concrete proof of such disorder. How ever the closest thing is a person that is Bi-polar. Lets call it what it is, A MID LIFE CRISIS.

by Anna	03/21/07 01:42 PM
Susan/Steve has felt this way for years & is now bravely acting on it. She feels this transition is more important to her life than the security of her job, that she has been dedicated to for years. Naturally she is hoping for acceptance. Inspiring.

by John	03/21/07 12:29 PM
Job Performance Horrible= Yes, Mental Illness= Yes, great reasons to be fired. He will much better off moving to San Fran, for everyone's sake.

by DanB	03/21/07 09:25 AM
This is not Multiple Personality Disorder (yes, I'm a doctor). Whether you consider transgender normal or not, I think if a person functions well at his/her job, that is what matters with regard to keeping it. The rest is irrelevant. Best of luck.

by Carol	03/20/07 06:29 PM
I applaud this person's courage. It cannot be easy for anyone to face a very prejudiced culture like our own. I wish her all the best in the world.

by Jim	03/20/07 03:02 PM
Wake up------This guy collected & wore women's clothing. Not normal behavior. Also, why marry and have a child while knowing his true feelings. This person is extremely selfish and needs long-term mental health care.

by Fred	03/19/07 03:07 PM
Kate, that is the great thing about this country. If something comes out that we don't like about somebody in a political position, then we can vote them out. If you don't like this decision then you can vote the council persons out. Majority rules!

by Francisco	03/19/07 09:32 AM
Wow does anybody read the bible? 1 cor. 6:9,10. We have to understand that gods morals dont change. to respect life we have to put in practice what was written for our good.

by Helen	03/19/07 06:22 AM
I'm straight as an arrow, but feel that "Susan" is well qualified for the job, and should remain. I don't think it's all about"her" as it is about the others, worrying about what people will think!

by Kate	03/18/07 01:17 PM
Well Fred, you'd best then subject ALL the commissioners to a lie detector test, making sure you don't have a problem with THEIR personal lives either. What if one of them is a crossdresser? What if one is gay? Scary! they could be hiding anything!

by Fred	03/17/07 12:27 PM
Yes, Kate. It depends on the job position. This is a position that represents the City of Largo, that is responsible to manage their daily lives. It is the choice of the people if that person is not reflection of them they want to represent them.

by Meghan	03/17/07 03:57 AM
We are no different from any human, we KNOW our gender (BRAIN) does not match our physical (BODY SEX) from a very early age. Classified as GID by DSM-IV. We ARE a functioning part of society. Susan is the same now as she was before her announcement.

by Sandy	03/17/07 01:27 AM
Stanton supporters are all BIGOTS. They attack the majority because we don't agree this man is fit to lead the city of Largo. The only hate here is with the activists that push their agenda and then hating society for not accepting their beliefs.

by Kate	03/17/07 12:09 AM
Think of a woman you work with. Someone you've known for years, someone who is great at their job. Are some of you telling me that if you found out now they were born male, you'd petition to have them fired regardless of their obvious competence?

by Sue	03/16/07 08:46 PM
Be it Steve or Susan, this person can do his/her job and can do so very well. Open your eyes people, this is a person no matter what gender. If I could vote for this person's position, I'd vote for Ms. Stanton---100%. Go Susan!

by Suzy	03/16/07 06:24 PM
I am ashamed to be living in a community of such closed minded and ignorant individuals. All that matters is if the person does the job well, and meets expectations of one's supervisors. He has made a choice and done nothing illegal. Leave him alone!

by Holly	03/16/07 05:12 PM
Do you mean to tell me that none of you have never created a plan to change your life in a more positive direction? This plan seems much like one I would create for myself. AND there is no evidence it was done on company time!!

by Jay	03/16/07 04:55 PM
The Three Faces of Eve, I mean The Two Faces of Steve. Did not the medical community determine that such a condition was a disorder? Oh yes it is called Multiple Personality Disorder.

by Josie	03/16/07 03:02 PM
Funny that you are called a bigot if you don't agree with someone else, when that is the definition of a bigot. Bigot: a prejudiced person who is intolerant of any opinions differing from his own. Sounds like all the Stanton supporters are bigots.

by crystal	03/16/07 01:32 PM
some of you guys need to get a grip on yourself. Who cares if somebody wants to change there sex. There the ones dealing with it not you. Let them live there lifes. -senior at gibbs high school

by sue	03/16/07 12:01 PM
YUCK!!!!!

by Jourdan	03/16/07 11:27 AM
Dan, you might want to become a bit more educated and a little less ignorant. Are you a scientist? How would you know it's a mental illness? What could you possibly have compassion for if you aren't accepting? That's hypocritical.

by Mary	03/16/07 11:26 AM
What if another staff member showed up at work as someone else for example let's say Tarzan. How would he or she be treated, yes, probably sent to the funny farm.....wake up people, Stanton has big mental troubles!!

by David	03/16/07 10:55 AM
Why should he be allowed to do these things on the payroll and make those decisions on the payroll? What if any other city employee wanted to work on his or her plans like this on the clock? I know Stanton would have fired them on the spot.

by Steve	03/16/07 09:49 AM
It is very clear that Mr Stanton, is who known to be skilled with the media and in political infighting, has orchastrated this from the beginning.

by JT	03/16/07 08:59 AM
So, Stusan was intent on dedicating hiser time to managing the situation rather than the city.If every Largo employee demanded such special treatment which they deserve no less can you imagine the continuous chaos. Stusan is selfish. Please leave.

by Dan	03/16/07 07:13 AM
Sorry, but employees should not be subjected to transition plans for transgenders. Society in a whole do not considered this to be a medical condition, but actually a mental illness. You might find compassion, but not acceptance on this topic.

by Leah	03/16/07 04:38 AM
Transition on the job is hard under the best of circumstances. The plan was well thought out, unfortunately things rarely go according to plan. As a result a "circus" ensued because the story was leaked (shame). I hope some good comes from this.